Gilgit—All the government departments should adopt the policy of transparency and that the uplift projects should be completed within stipulated span of time, said Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) Wazir Baig in an official handout issued.

Speaking to the heads of various departments here in his office, the speaker remarked that delay by the contractors in completion of projects was in fact negligence of the officials which would not be tolerated any more. The department heads including Public Works department, Forest department, Disaster Management Authority and National Education Foundation called on the speaker in his office, the handout said.

The speaker was briefed about the pace of uplift projects in the meeting. He directed the Works department officials to accelerate the pace of work on various schemes. Baig told officials of forest department that there were complaints of recruitment on the basis of nepotism which should be streamlined and merit must be ensured. He was briefed about relief assistance as well as compensation money to the affected people of Attabad lake by the management of Disaster Management Authority. The speaker was also informed about the progress regarding the issue of teachers who were not paid salaries by the National Education Foundation. The Speaker, the handout added, was of the viewed that the teacher were the builders of the nation but they were in a deplorable conditions. He directed the concerned authorities to take care of the interests of the teachers and address their grievances.—APP